A Pictorial Map of Gadsden Alabama with Scenes of Today and Yesterday .

A century of Gadsden history, distilled into one pictorial image (from a woman’s perspective!)

This rare pictorial map presents an interesting and engaging juxtaposition of historic and modern for the city of Gadsden, Alabama, with a slightly feminine twist. Charming vignettes represent important buildings and events, each labeled atop a generalized street plan of the area, which includes East Gadsden (across the Coosa River) and Alabama City. An abundance of educational institutions, natural beauty, and local industry reflect the trifecta of priorities shared by many American communities in the mid-20th century.

Notable stories tell of the local Centennial Party, when the men ate all the food, “forcing the women to go home and cook their own,” and the actions of fearless (albeit traitorous) Emma Sansom during the Civil War. However, there is certainly some historical revisionism with the scene showing ‘Plantation Life in the Old Days’, where African-American slaves are dancing and picking cotton.

The map was drawn by hometown artist Marjorie Plank in 1938-1939 and published by the local Women’s Club, with sponsorship from the Gadsden City Commission. Appropriately, the women and children of Gadsden are presented prominently alongside the (male) soldiers and Native Americans in the decorative title cartouche. Rare and unlisted in WorldCat as of August 2025, though an example (heightened with hand color) has been located online in the collections of the Alabama State Historical Archives.

Sources: Marjorie Plank Obituary; University of Alabama;